Clinicoepidemiological profile of measles in adults: A study from semi-urban area in South India

Abstract

Background

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease caused by rubeola virus of paramyxoviridae family. It presents with fever, rash, and other associated symptoms like headache, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis. It is common in children, and when occurs in adults, it is usually morbid. The clinical data on adults’ measles in Indian scenario are sparse. We report here an outbreak of measles affecting 52 adults. The primary objective of the study was to describe the clinical and laboratory findings obtained in an outbreak of adult measles cases from semi-urban area in India.

Methods

The study was an observational study conducted in a secondary care health center over a period of 2 months.

Results

Fifty-two males with median age of 22.02 ± 3.5yr were diagnosed and treated for measles. All presented with fever and rash. The characteristic Koplik's spots appeared in 21 cases. On the day of their admission, 48% had lymphopenia and only one had thrombocytopenia. Liver enzyme dearrangements were seen in 18 patients. Sixteen patients had complications which included eight pneumonitis, three corneal ulcerations, three otitis media, and one case of acute encephalitis and polyserositis each. No deaths were reported in our study. We followed 34 cases and observed that their rashes healed with scars and laboratory parameters got normalized after six weeks.

Conclusion

Clinician should be vigilant of measles as a differential in adults presenting as fever with rash. In doubt, the serological sampling should be carried out. Mass immunization is necessary to prevent the outbreaks.